IndieGoGo is a fundraising platform that helps people generate money for “passion projects.” On the homepage of IndieGoGo’s site, there is a campaign to help a young girl with brittle bones. Another aims to fund an indie film project. And yet another is in support of an ocean clean up feasibility study. IndieGoGo explains itself as “a crowdfunding platform where people who want to raise money can create fundraising campaigns to tell their story and get the word out. IndieGoGo is also a place to discover what people all over the world are passionate about and how to get involved.” No, there is nothing that says the funding raised via IndieGoGo must be used for some altruistic project or entrepreneurial end, however that seems to be implicitly understood by people who start campaigns on the site. Successful projects are ones that are able to capture the hearts and minds of potential funders because they provide a worthwhile service, or help those in need.
Sure, you can try to get funding for any old thing via IndieGoGo. But should you? Should you try and get funding for a total pisser of a vacay to Japan just because you really want to go to Japan and hang out with your buddy there? I’m gonna go with no. And yet! This person feels like it’s totally cool to expect people to fund her vacation. Keep reading »
